Sagi Kalev – A True Leader

I’m a firm believer that people are brought into your life for a reason, I have always believed that. When I look back at my past, this holds true for everything I have done, and things seem to line up perfectly. Melinda was brought into my life at a perfect time, when I was at a low point and needed some beam of light to spark positivity again. She was that beam and still is that beam, and is someone who truly brought balance into my life. Naturally, I’m a work horse, and I could work 18 hours a day if I wanted to, but she has taught me the importance of family, of balance, and how not to worry about the little petty things that go on around us. About a year and a half ago, though, Melinda and I were going through a very tough situation, and someone else was brought into our life by the name of Sagi Kalev, the creator of the Body Beast program, and he helped us in a desperate time of need.

Back in September of 2012 at the Beachbody Leadership event, we found out we were pregnant with our second child. We were absolutely thrilled and couldn’t wait to find out the sex of the baby. When we went to the doctor’s to get our first ultrasound, though, we discovered the worst news that any parent could possibly receive, the baby didn’t have a heartbeat. I can’t explain the emptiness, sadness, pit in the stomach that you experience when you look up at that screen and don’t see a heartbeat where there is supposed to be one, but it absolutely consumed and destroyed Melinda and I. Naturally, I’m a strong person, able to get through anything, and always look at the positives when it comes to every situation that I go through, but this was tough to do. I bottled up my emotions and chose not to speak about them to anyone, not even Melinda. She needed someone to talk to, but I wasn’t willing to talk about it, and it caused friction and void in our relationship. Months later, it finally got to the point where we had to talk about it and we did, and eventually came to terms with the situation. I don’t know what the reason was, but God’s plan was for us to not have the baby, and as hard as it may be, we had to just accept it and not question His plan.

We kept trying to get pregnant again, but it wasn’t working. We started to question if there was a deeper issue going on, maybe with Melinda’s health, but we just weren’t sure. Barbie, my Coach and good friend, introduced this incredible man, Sagi Kalev, to us and told us that he is very knowledgeable about nutrition and the body, and maybe he could help. Now understand that this guy is extremely busy, a celebrity Beachbody trainer with one of the most popular home workout programs out at the time, Body Beast, and the last thing we wanted to do was “bug” him. I’m sure this guy has a million other things going on, why would he want to help us? However, Barbie told Sagi our story and he was more than willing to get on the phone with us and talk, so that’s exactly what we did. For about an hour and a half we talked on the phone and he explained to us pretty much every health issue that Melinda was going through, offered a ton of advice, and told us what we needed to try, and we listened to every single word he said. While on the phone, I realized how great of a person this guy is, how big of a heart he must have to be willing to take so much time to help out 2 people he has never met before. Who does that? There aren’t many people who would do that, not for free, but he did and proved that he is an incredible man, and earned my utmost respect immediately.

Shortly thereafter, we had discovered that we were pregnant once again. We were extremely nervous, though, and didn’t want to get our hopes up, but couldn’t wait to go to the doctor’s and see if everything was OK with our little angel. About 2 months later, we went to get the first ultrasound, and we saw a little peanut with a tiny little heartbeat and knew that everything was going to be OK. A few months after that, we got another ultrasound and found out we were having a little girl. Today, Alaina Joy Spencer (pictures above) is almost 6 months old and the light of our lives. She brings incredible joy to anyone that’s around her, and she does so with her bright smile that she always seems to give. On top of that, she has her daddy wrapped around her little finger, and I pray to the good Lord above and thank Him every single day for bringing her into our lives. We are blessed beyond what words can express, that is for sure.

Sagi, if you are reading this, I hope you understand what that conversation you had with us that day meant to us. Because of your willingness to help out two people in need, we now have this beautiful little girl that we could never picture our lives without. It takes a lot for people to earn my respect, but you are one of the few that I have an incredible amount of respect for, and I will always be in your debt. You are a man of TRUE integrity, something that’s hard to find these days, and I want you to know how much we appreciate all you have done for us. You are the type of person that I strive to be more like every single day, and I promise to do everything in my power to pay it forward and help others in need if the opportunity arises. You are a leader, my friend, a great man. THANK YOU! You have changed our lives.

3 Comments

I can’t say much besides saying THANK YOU and how blessed you made me feel today readying your blog.
This means more than you even know and what a great gift to myself at times that is most needed.
Even leaders need to get picked up at times and have a Leader like you that
will take his time and write what you wrote. I will take it with me to the end of my journey and always remember that the power of love and your words can change and make lives or do them wrong.
Thank you so very much and I wish to you and your family always the best things in life with many blessings and wishes.
Love and respect,
Sagi kalev.

You deserve it Sagi. You are a TRUE inspiration to many of us and I don’t say that lightly. There are very few people in this world (and I do mean VERY few) that inspire me but you are one of the great ones. Thank you.

I normally don’t reply to blogs but like you Josh, I feel Sagi deserves the recognition. I have never met someone as giving and genuine as Sagi. He has supported and encouraged me more than I can ever express. So happy for the Spencer family as well!